Review by Joy35 -- The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings
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Joy35
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Review by Joy35 -- The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Reel Sisters" by Michelle Cummings.]
3 out of 4 stars
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If you are looking for a book with a “they lived happily ever after” ending, then The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings is not what you want. This novel about a group of women is true to life; there’s laughter, heartache and a lot of wine. Think Steel Magnolias meets A River Runs Thru It that you get to drink your way through. I give this book 3 out of 4 stars.
“Like the river transforms the land, the bonds of friendship can transform your life. Trusting the currents, navigating the terrain and figuring out how to read the water are all skills that take patience, time and love.” These 5 women are a diverse group to say the least; broad age differences, CEO, young mother, retiree; wealthy and struggling to make ends meet. But all with one thing in common- fly fishing. Not your usual activity that brings women together, but one that really drew me to the book. They are navigating the waters of Colorado rivers, friendship and mentorship and we go along for the bumpy ride. One of the Sisters has a cabin deep in the woods, with a very interesting story itself, and they meet there as a retreat and for respite from their “real worlds.” This book is told from the perspective of each woman which gives it a different flow but one that you will enjoy. You really get to know each woman and their unique outlook on life.
You do not have to be an avid fly fisher to relate to this book. I love fly-fishing and have been many times. But there are enough detailed descriptions, and instructions for the newbie Sister, that it is easy to follow. There are a few places that the descriptions get a little lengthy and it seems to stall the story, but if you’ve never picked up a rod before I’m sure it’s ultimately helpful. Just reading about fly-fishing makes me want to go join them.
A few things kept me from giving it 4 out of 4 stars. There are a couple of inconsistencies in the story details that I felt an editor should have caught. Nothing detrimental to the story-line, but enough to irritate my detail-oriented brain. But there weren’t any typos or grammatical errors that I caught, so someone did a good job on that side. I also felt that there could’ve been more emotional descriptions along with the dialogue. As a writer myself, I can appreciate the complexity and challenges of writing dialogues; but especially since it is written from the perspective of each woman, I feel we could’ve been given a little more insight into the emotions behind the statements. Some of the dialogue seemed forced and I think a little more explanation would have smoothed that out. But, none of these were enough to derail the story or keep me from enjoying the adventure.
Having the women bond over fly-fishing was an amazing twist that I thoroughly appreciated. I believe most women would like this book, and if you’re an outdoorsy woman, you will love it. This is a group of women that you will enjoy getting to know, a journey you will be glad you took and you won’t want to put this novel down.
******
The Reel Sisters
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
3 out of 4 stars
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If you are looking for a book with a “they lived happily ever after” ending, then The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings is not what you want. This novel about a group of women is true to life; there’s laughter, heartache and a lot of wine. Think Steel Magnolias meets A River Runs Thru It that you get to drink your way through. I give this book 3 out of 4 stars.
“Like the river transforms the land, the bonds of friendship can transform your life. Trusting the currents, navigating the terrain and figuring out how to read the water are all skills that take patience, time and love.” These 5 women are a diverse group to say the least; broad age differences, CEO, young mother, retiree; wealthy and struggling to make ends meet. But all with one thing in common- fly fishing. Not your usual activity that brings women together, but one that really drew me to the book. They are navigating the waters of Colorado rivers, friendship and mentorship and we go along for the bumpy ride. One of the Sisters has a cabin deep in the woods, with a very interesting story itself, and they meet there as a retreat and for respite from their “real worlds.” This book is told from the perspective of each woman which gives it a different flow but one that you will enjoy. You really get to know each woman and their unique outlook on life.
You do not have to be an avid fly fisher to relate to this book. I love fly-fishing and have been many times. But there are enough detailed descriptions, and instructions for the newbie Sister, that it is easy to follow. There are a few places that the descriptions get a little lengthy and it seems to stall the story, but if you’ve never picked up a rod before I’m sure it’s ultimately helpful. Just reading about fly-fishing makes me want to go join them.
A few things kept me from giving it 4 out of 4 stars. There are a couple of inconsistencies in the story details that I felt an editor should have caught. Nothing detrimental to the story-line, but enough to irritate my detail-oriented brain. But there weren’t any typos or grammatical errors that I caught, so someone did a good job on that side. I also felt that there could’ve been more emotional descriptions along with the dialogue. As a writer myself, I can appreciate the complexity and challenges of writing dialogues; but especially since it is written from the perspective of each woman, I feel we could’ve been given a little more insight into the emotions behind the statements. Some of the dialogue seemed forced and I think a little more explanation would have smoothed that out. But, none of these were enough to derail the story or keep me from enjoying the adventure.
Having the women bond over fly-fishing was an amazing twist that I thoroughly appreciated. I believe most women would like this book, and if you’re an outdoorsy woman, you will love it. This is a group of women that you will enjoy getting to know, a journey you will be glad you took and you won’t want to put this novel down.
******
The Reel Sisters
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Flat Top Mountain Ranch -- the beginning by James E Doucette
